What Is Sensory Integration?

Last updated: 12 April 2026 · Chewel

Sensory integration is the neurological process by which the brain combines and organises information from multiple senses simultaneously, and uses that combined information to produce appropriate, coordinated responses. The theory was developed by occupational therapist and neuroscientist Dr Jean Ayres in the 1960s and 1970s, and it remains the foundational framework for sensory-based occupational therapy today.

Jean Ayres and the Theory of Sensory Integration

Dr A. Jean Ayres (1920–1988) was an American occupational therapist and educational psychologist who pioneered the understanding of how sensory processing affects behaviour and learning. Working with children who had learning difficulties and developmental differences, Ayres noticed that many of their challenges were rooted not in cognitive difficulty but in the way their brains processed and organised sensory information.

She published her foundational work in 1972 in Sensory Integration and Learning Disorders, introducing the theory that the brain must integrate — combine and coordinate — information from all the senses simultaneously in order to produce appropriate behaviour and motor responses. When this process is disrupted or immature, a wide range of difficulties can result.

What Sensory Integration Actually Means

Imagine you are catching a ball. Your eyes track the ball visually. Your proprioceptive system tells you where your arm and hand are. Your vestibular system maintains your balance as you shift your weight. Your tactile system registers the moment of contact. Your brain integrates all of this simultaneously to produce the coordinated movements needed to catch successfully — and to learn from the experience for next time.

This kind of multi-sensory integration happens constantly, in every action and interaction. Most people's brains do it automatically and effortlessly. For people with sensory integration difficulties, one or more of these sensory channels may not be providing clear, consistent signals — and the brain struggles to combine them accurately.

Signs That Sensory Integration May Not Be Working Smoothly

• Difficulty with tasks requiring coordination — writing, dressing, catching
• Being very sensitive to sensory input (tags, sounds, crowds)
• Seeking very intense sensory input (crashing, spinning, chewing hard objects)
• Difficulty regulating emotions and behaviour in response to sensory demands
• Poor body awareness — bumping into things, misjudging personal space
• Difficulty with motor planning — executing sequences of movements

Sensory Integration Therapy

Sensory integration therapy (also called sensory integration intervention or SI therapy) is a form of occupational therapy that uses structured sensory experiences to improve the brain's processing and integration of sensory information. A certified occupational therapist designs a "sensory diet" — a personalised programme of sensory activities throughout the day — to meet the individual's needs.

Common sensory diet activities include:

• Proprioceptive activities: heavy work, chewing, pushing and pulling, weighted vests
• Vestibular activities: swinging, rocking, bouncing, wobble cushions
• Tactile activities: brushing protocols, texture exploration, deep pressure

A chew necklace can be part of a sensory diet — specifically providing oral proprioceptive input during the school day or other demanding situations where the therapist's prescribed activities are not available.

Sensory Integration Disorder — When to Seek Help

When sensory integration difficulties significantly affect a child's daily functioning — at school, at home, in social situations — an assessment by a paediatric occupational therapist who specialises in sensory processing is recommended. They can carry out a standardised assessment and develop a personalised sensory diet. See: sensory processing disorder explained